The National Security Studies Institute – An Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) is dedicated to the concept of advancing intelligence and security education for the purpose of providing for the national security of the United States. The National Security Studies Institute prepares students academically and professionally for the challenges of the current cyber era characterized by increasing speed,complexity, and uncertainty and requiring a deeper understanding of the nexus between culture, technology, and conflict. The institute’s aim is to educate our students to be as innovative and adaptable as the constantly evolving security challenges that currently face our nation and allies. The institute provides creative learning experiences that balance both theory and practice. We are a full spectrum educational enterprise comprising synergistic undergraduate, graduate, and research components, and embrace cultural awareness and strategic language proficiency.

The National Security Studies Institute has two complementary units:

The Center for Intelligence and Security Research (CISR) advances intelligence and security education through leading faculty and student research that supports the U.S. Intelligence Community’s mission to anticipate and analyze a host of vexing national security problems.

The Intelligence and National Security Studies (INSS) Program is the teaching and learning component of the institute. It is home to all of the graduate and undergraduate degrees, certificates, and minor associated with UTEP’s Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence.